Carambola (Starfruit) and Serrano Ham Salad

July 18, 2014

As a denizen of this little tropical corner of the world, I am very spoiled when it comes to fruits. We have the juiciest, sweetest mangoes, delectable and fragrant papayas, blissfully sweet watermelons, and… well, it’s too long a list to mention. We are also in the unique position to grow fruits that don’t normally grow in the tropics, thanks to Constanza (the Caribbean Refrigerator). Yeah, life is good.

We also have carambola (starfruit).

Compared to mangoes, or bananas, carambolas are a very mild fruit, with only a hint of sweet. It is mostly appreciated for its stunning shape, a case of beauty over form. Eating carambola feels… underwhelming. I love it for decorating drinks though, and whenever I see it in the supermarket I can barely contain myself from buying it. I had to find a good use for this beautiful fruit. Enter Carambola (Starfruit) and Serrano Salad. Why didn’t I think of this before?

I have just come to the conclusion that carambola should be a salad ingredient. Its gentle sweetness and pear-like texture lends itself well for the task, especially when accompanied by a strong-flavored ingredient (serrano in this case). But what else is carambola good for? Let’s see:

Carambola is rich in antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin C; and low in sugar, sodium, and acid. It is also a potent source of both primary and secondary polyphenolic antioxidants. Averrhoa carambola has both antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Scavenging of nitric oxide (NO) by the fruit extract is dependent on concentration and stage of ripening. Extracts showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. [Source]

Notice that Carambola should not be consumed by those suffering from kidney disease or kidney stones.

And speaking of life being good…

LG is a very popular brand of appliances in this corner of the world, and they are well-known for their quality. LG is now a sponsor of The Kitchen, Katie Lee’s new cooking show where LG have furnished the kitchen with all appliances, from refrigerators, ovens and microwave to a LG cooktop.

LG is inviting my dear readers to participate in the “Caption This” Contest on Facebook (Link below), readers (in eligible areas) could win the newest LG Door-in-Door refrigerator (I so wish I could have one!). To enter simply visit LG’s Facebook page at LGKitchenCaptions.com and write a witty caption to a scene from LG’s brand new home appliance commercials. Entry starts 06/20/14 and ends 07/31/14. Public Voting for best captions start 08/20/14 and ends 09/03/14.